Drug Testing

Drugs are chemical substances that can change how your body and mind work. A drug test looks for signs of illegal drugs or certain prescription and/or over-the-counter (OTC) medicines that can be misused. The test is usually done with a sample of your urine (pee).

Less commonly, drug testing uses a sample of your blood, saliva (spit), hair, sweat, fingernails, or breath. The purpose of a drug test is to look for drug use and misuse, which includes: Using any illegal drugs, such as: Anabolic steroids.; Cocaine.; Club drugs.; Heroin.; Inhalants.; Marijuana (cannabis, THC).; Amphetamines, such as methamphetamines and Ecstasy (MDMA).; Phencyclidine (PCP); ; Misusing prescription medicines, including opioids (such as codeine, oxycodone, morphine, and fentanyl), barbiturates (such as phenobarbital), and benzodiazepines (such as alprazolam). This means taking prescription medicines in a different way than your health care provider prescribed.

This includes: Taking a medicine that was prescribed for someone else.; Taking a larger dose than you are supposed to.; Using the medicine in a different way than you are supposed to. For example, instead of swallowing your tablets, you might crush and then snort or inject them.; Using the medicine for another purpose, such as getting high.; ; Misusing over-the-counter medicines, such as dextromethorphan (DXM) and certain laxatives. This includes using them for another purpose or in a different way than you are supposed to.; A drug test can also check your urine or blood for signs of alcohol use.

Drug tests can find signs of drugs that you took hours to several days or more before the test. How long a drug lasts in your body depends on: The type of drug; How much you used; How long you were using it before the test; How your body reacts to the drug;

Why this test is done

You may be asked to take a drug test for a job, to participate in certain organized sports, or as part of a police investigation or court case. In a hospital emergency room, a provider may order a drug test if you have signs of a possible drug overdose. Newborns can also be tested for possible prenatal exposure to illegal drugs.

How to prepare

Be sure to tell the testing professional if you are taking any prescription drugs, over-the-counter medicines, or supplements, because these substances may affect your test results. Also, you should avoid foods with poppy seeds, which can show up as opiates in a drug test.

Sample type

Blood Saliva

Other names for this test

drug screen, drug test, drugs of abuse testing, substance abuse testing, toxicology screen, tox screen, sports doping tests